David Speedie is the founder and former director of the Council's program on U.S. Global Engagement. He is a founding member of The American Committee for East-West Accord.
In 2007–2008, Speedie was also a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Speedie worked at Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1992 to 2007. He joined the Corporation as a program officer in the cooperative security program and was appointed program chair in March 1993, a position he held for almost 12 years. In 2004, he was appointed to serve as special advisor to the president and director of the Corporation's project on Islam.
He was recruited from the W. Alton Jones Foundation where he was codirector of the secure society program and directed, over a five year period, programs in the arts, urban affairs, and the environment. In the 1980s, Speedie was a consultant to nonprofits in management, marketing, and fund-raising as well as director of cultural affairs for Mayor Bill Green in Philadelphia. He also served as the bicentennial liaison officer at the British Embassy in Washington.
For three years, Speedie was a professor of English and drama at the University of St Andrews in his native Scotland. Speedie holds an Honours M.A. [First Class] in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Studies and an M.Litt. from the University of St Andrews. He was a visiting research fellow as a Kennedy scholar at Harvard University from 1971–1973. He has been a book editor and writer for the National Endowment for the Arts' Community Vision, a freelance journalist on politics for The Scotsman, and most recently, a reviewer for the International Journal of Middle East Studies. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Featured Work
MAR 29, 2012 • Article
Russia Bulletin (2012): Russia Bulletin, Issue 5
Jackson-Vanik, enacted during the Cold War by the U.S. to restrict trade with the Soviet Union, remains on the books almost 40 years later. Will ...
MAR 19, 2012 • Podcast
Iran: A Diplomatic Solution
In this knowledgeable and detailed talk, Ambassador Pickering cuts through the current hysteria about Iran, stressing that we still have time for diplomacy. In fact ...
MAR 9, 2012 • Article
Russia Bulletin (2012): Russia Bulletin, Issue 4
What's the real deal on the elections? What of Kremlin attacks on election monitors and protestors? How will the United States and the West best ...
FEB 22, 2012 • Article
Russia Bulletin (2012): Russia Bulletin, Issue 3
What lies behind Russia's veto and its opposition to the U.S.-led hard line on Damascus? Whether or not we agree with them, Russia ...
FEB 3, 2012 • Article
Russia Bulletin (2012): Russia Bulletin, Issue 2
David Speedie examines Russia's position on Iran; the upcoming Russian elections, including the Moscow demonstrations and the West's attitude towards them;and Jackson-Vanik and U....
NOV 23, 2011 • Podcast
Report from Iran
Dr. Larijani, Iran's secretary general of the High Council for Human Rights, describes Iran's system as a "democratic structure based on Islamic rationality," and engages ...
NOV 16, 2011 • Article
Putin and his Russia Don't Deserve the Bad Rap
Let's look at some of the most serious accusations leveled at Putin and his Russia. In the right light, we see Russia and Putin have ...
NOV 15, 2011 • Podcast
Towards a More Robust Public Policy Environment in the Middle East
Dr. Alterman describes the principal challenges for the Arab Middle East states as "developing human capital and strengthening public policy environments." In aspiring to these, ...
NOV 2, 2011 • Podcast
Illusions of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
"It's time that we got ourselves out of this false sense of insecurity and realize that terrorism is here to stay, it will never pose ...
SEP 21, 2011 • Podcast
Jackson-Vanik: Time for Reconsideration?
The Jackson-Vanik amendment has been imposed on Russia for 37 years. Is it time for repeal? This event is in cooperation with EastWest Institute.